Variable load brake



July 18, 1950 MCCLURE 2,515,963

VARIABLE LOAD BRAKE Filed June g8, 1946 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! INVENTUR GLENN T MQCLURE A TTORNE Y July 18, 1950 G. T. MCCLURE 2,515,963

VARIABLE LOAD BRAKE Filed June 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

IN V EN TOR GLENN T MC CLURE MJM ATTORNE Y y 1950 e. T. MCCLURE 2,515,963

VARIABLE LOAD BRAKE Filed June 28, 1946 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

I NV EN TOR GLENN T, McCLU RE @Zzm ATTORNEY Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VARIABLE LOAD BRAKE Glenn '1. McClure, McKeesport, Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding,-Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,279

41 Claims.

loads, assumes relative to a fixed part of a truck.

The present trend toward the use of light weight materials in the construction of railway freight cars has resulted in much higher ratios of gross weight to tare weight than ever before encountered. Since the braking force in relation to the weight of an empty car must be such as to avoid wheel sliding and excessive train shock, the braking force on lighter weight cars will consequently have to be lower than heretofore. Because the gross weight is limited only by the load limit for the trucks, which remain unchanged, the lower braking force will be inadequate for proper control of such cars when loaded.

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a variable load brake equipment which will operate in conjunction with the present type of fluid pressure brake equipment so that the braking force will be sufliciently low on an empty car to prevent Wheel sliding and will be increased in relation to any increase in the gross weight of the car so that a loaded or partially loaded car may be properly controlled in a train. Another object is to provide a variable load brake equipment which will operate in conjunction with the standard fluid pressure freight brake equipment to obtain the present application and release time intervals on a car without altering the flow capacities of any passages in the present standard freight brake equipment.

Still another object is to provide a variable load brake equipment of the type employing two brake cylinders in which the fluid pressure may be varied, the pressure in one of the brake cylinders for any given application being propor- Another object is to provide a load compensating, or variable load, fluid pressure brake equipment having a cut-off valve portion which is arranged to cut off the flow of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe at a high pressure when the pressure is increasing from below a predetermined value and to establish the flow of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe at a predetermined low pressure when brake pipe is being reduced.

A further object is to provide a load compensating, or variable load, fluid pressure brake equipment of the variable leverage relay valve type, in which the means for positioning the fulcrum for the relay valve will actuate said fulcrum to a position for braking an empty vehicle prior to the operation of positioning the fulcrum for obtaining a braking power corresponding to the load on the vehicle, thus ensuring that, in the event of failure of the load measuring mechanism to operate, the car will be safely underbraked rather than dangerously overbraked.

Another object is to provide in a load compensating brake of the above type which includes a mechanism for locking the fulcrum in its adjusted position, a means for biasing the fulcrum toward a position for braking an empty vehicle,

which means is effective only during the adjusting period so that strain on the locking mechanism will be eliminated at all other times.

Still another object is to provide a load compensating fluid pressure brake including means for preventing the operation of adjusting the variable mechanism according to the weight of the load until the pressure of fluid in the empty brake cylinder has been reduced to some predetermined low degree, thus preventing the subjecting of the adjusting apparatus to undue stresses while the adjusting is taking place.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following more detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a variable load brake equipment embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View, chiefly in section, of a portion of the equipment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 3--3 through a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the variable load fluid pressure brake equipment may comprise the usual brake pipe indicated by the reference numeral I, a branch pipe 2, a brake controlling valve device 3, an auxiliary reservoir 4, an emergency reservoir 5, a supplementary reservoir 6, a load compensating, or variable load, valve mechanism I, a brake cylinder device 8 which may be of the standard type, and a load compensating brake cylinder device 9.

The brake controlling valve device 3 may be of substantially the same construction and have the same operating characteristics as the AB valve device shown and fully described in the patent to Clyde C. Farmer, No. 2,031,213, issued February 18, 1936 and assigned to the assigneepf the present invention, and in view ofzthisit is deemed unnecessary to show and describe a this device in detail. It will, of course, be understood that this device operates upon a servicereduction in brake pipe pressure to supply fluid under pressure toeffect a service application of the brakes, upon an emergenc reduction in brake .pipe pressure to effect anemergency application of the brakes, and upon an increase in brake pipe pressure to effect a release of the brakes and the charging of the brake equipment.

It is preferred for this invention that the load compensating valve mechanism I be mounted by any suitable means to a sprung portion of a car, such asthe under side 9a of the car body, so that the deflection of the truck springs resulting from a .change in the weight of thelading on a car equipped with an apparatus embodying the invention. may be measured and the mechanism conditioned according to thisdeflection. For this purpose, the load compensating valve mechanism I is provided with a measuring element In which may be actuated downwardly into engagement with a vertically fixed part, such as the. truck axle I l, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the load compensating valve mechanism I, the operation of which is determined by the degree of movement of the measuringelement. I into engagement with the axle II, may comprise a load measuring portion I2, a fulcrum positioning portion I3, a rela valve mechanism M, a locking portion I5, a cut-01f valve portion I6, a pilot valve portion I1 and a lock-out valve portion I8.

Theload measuring portion I2 is provided for the purpose of actuating'the, measuring element I0 into engagement with a vertically fixed part of the truck andwdetermining. the operation of the fulcrum positioning portion I3 accordingly. For operatively carrying the measuring element Ii] a stem I9 to which said element is rigidly attached, is slidably and rotatively mounted in a sleeve portion I9a of a casing 20 formthe load compensating valve. mechanism I. Intermediate its ends the-stem i9 is provided with a collar 2! which is keyed in a slot 22' formed in the stem sothat the collar may effect the rotation of the stem and also permit the stem to slide in the casing. Interposed between the collar 2i and a spring seat 23 at the upper end of the stem I9 is :a return-spring which constantly'urges the stem toward its uppermost, or retracted, position in which it is shown in the drawings. An arm 25: is rockabl and adjustably mounted to the casing 2 for engaging at-one end the upper end of thestem IQ'andactuating it downwardly against the force of the spring 24.

For actuating the arm 25 there is operatively mounted in a portion of the casing 26 a piston 2 6 having at one side a chamber 27 which is in constant open communicationwitha chamber 28 in the fulcrum positioning portion It by way of a .4 passage 29. At the other side of the piston 26 is a chamber 30 which is constantly open to atmosphere by way of a passage 3|, a chamber 32 and an atmospheric passage 33 in the casing 20. A spring 34 is disposed in the chamber 30 so as to engage a wall of the chamber and the piston 26 and. urge said piston downwardly toward the posit-ion in" which it is shown. The piston 25 is provided with a stem 35, which stem extends through the chamber 30 and its upper wall in the casing 25 into chamber 32 where the upper end of .the stem may operatively engage the arm 25. For the purpose of preventing rotation of the stem 35, the right-hand side of the stem, as viewed inFig. 2 is keyed in the casing 20. The stem 35 is further provided at its left-hand side with a tortuous slot 31 for receiving a portion of a member 38 which member is rotatably mounted in the chamber 32 and upon the stem 35 so that, when the piston 26 actuates the stem upwardly, the member is caused, during the intial piston movement of the piston, to rotate-in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. An arm 39 on the member 38 is operatively connected by means of-a link 40 to an arm 4| provided on-the collar 2| for imparting rotary movement to the stem I9 and element Ill for reasons which will hereinafter more fully appear.

The fulcrum positioning portion I3' is provided for the purpose of positioning a fulcrum along a scale beam according to the distance the measuring element Ill is actuated by the load measuring portion I2. To effect this result, the fulcrum. positioning portion I3 may comprise a portion of the casing 20 in which is slidably mounted a piston member 42, which member comprises a piston 43 and a piston 44 formed integrally therewith. The chamber 28 is located between these pistons G3 and 44, the piston 43 having at itsopposite side the chamber 32 and the piston 44 having at its opposite side a chamber 45, which chamber 45 is in constant open communication with the load measurin portion I2 by way of a passage 46. Rigidl attached to the piston member 42 and extending into the chamber 32 is a fulcrum positioning bar 41 having formed at one side thereof a V-shaped projection which may serve as a fulcrum 48 for a composite scale beam lever 19 hereinafter described. The upper end of the bar l! is operatively connected to one end of a lever 50 rockably mounted on the casing 20 in such a manner that the other end of the lever 50 may be actuated into engagement with the stem 35. The bar 41 is further provided, at a point intermediate its ends, with a toothed portion 5| for operative engagement with the locking portion I5 now to be described.

The locking-portion I5 is provided for the purpose of locking the bar 4'! and thereby the fulcrum 48 in its last assumed, load-adjusted position. As will now be seen, upon movement to its unlocked position the locking portion I5. also operates to permit fluid under pressure to flow from the cut-off valve portion I6 to the fulcrum positioning portion I3 and the load measuringportion I2 to render the same operative. The locking portion I5 comprises a casing section which has clamped therein at its periphery a flexible diaphragm 52, providing thereby, at one side, a chamber 53 which is in constant open communication with the cut-off valve portion I6 by way of a passage 54. A follower and stem 55 secured to the diaphragm 52 extends through the chamber 53 and a suitable opening in the casing 20 into the chamber 32 and terminates therein in a toothed end for locking engagement with the correspondingly toothed portion 5| of the. barII'I. At the other side of the diaphragm 52 is a chamber 56 which is open to atmosphere by way of a passage 51. A spring 59 is operatively mounted in the chamber 56 so as to urge the follower and stem 55 toward locking engagement with the bar 41.

The locking portion l5 further comprises another diaphragm 59 which is clamped at its periphery between two portions of the casing 20 and has at one side a chamber 60 which is constantly open to atmosphere by way of a passage 6|. At the other side of the diaphragm 59 is a chamber 62 which is connected to the cut-off valve portion I6 and the fulcrum positioning portion I3 byway of a passage 63. Operatively mounted in the chamber 62 is a valve 64, preferably formed of rubber and integral with diaphragm 59, for controlling communication between the chamber 62 and the cut-01f valve portion i6 by way of a bore 65 and a passage 66 formed in the casing Zl]. A spring 61 is operatively mounted in the chamber 66 so as to act through the medium of the diaphragm 59 to urge valve 64 toward its seated position. A thrust member 68 is slidably mounted in the bore 65 so that it may be operated by the follower 55 to unseat the valve 64.

The lock-out valve portion I8 is provided for the purpose of preventing the load adjusting operation until the pressure of fluidin the brake cylinder device 8 has been reduced to some predetermined low degree such as ten pounds, The device I8 may comprise a diaphragm 69 tightly clamped at its periphery between two parts of the casing 20. At one side of the diaphragm 69 is a chamber I0 which chamber is in open communication with the cut-ofi valve device l6 by way of a passage II and may be connected by way of a passage 72 to a reset or timing reservoir I3 formed in a portion of th casing 26. Containedin the chamber and controlling communication between said chamber and the passage I2 is a valve M, which valve is operatively connected to the diaphragm 69. At the other side of the diaphragm 69 is a chamber I5 which is in open communication with the pilot valve portion I I by way of a passage 76 and with the brake cylinder device 8 by way of passage I6 and a pipe 11. Chamber 75 is also connected to a valve chamber 18 by Way of a bore having slidably mounted therein so as to seal said bore a follower I9 which efiects a seal between the chambers I5 and I8 and efifects a positive connection between the diaphragm 69 and a valve 89 contained in the chamber 18. The chamber 19 is also in constant open communication with the cut-oil valve portion I6 by way of a passage 8! and may be connected to atmosphere by way of a fluted stem of'the valve 8|], a chamber 82 and a passage 83. Operatively arranged in the chamber 62 is a spring 84 which, through the medium of the valve 80, follower l9 and diaphragm 69, constantly urges the valve I4 toward its seated position, in which position it is shown in the drawing. V

The cut-off valve portion i6 is provided for the purpose of permitting fluid under pressure supplied from the brake pipe I to flow to the various portions of the variable load valve mechanism 8 to effect its operation when the pressure is below a certain degree, to cut off the flow when the pressure rises above said certain degree, and. to reestablish the flow when the pressure falls below another degree of pressure which is lower than the first mentioned certain degree. The cut-off valveportion I6 comprises a portion of the casing 20 having mounted therein a flexible diaphragm 85 rigidly clamped around its periphery between two connected parts of the casing 20, and having at one side a valve chamber 86 which is in constant open communication by way of a connected passage and pipe 81 with a brake pipe passage 88 provided in the brake controlling valve device 3, the passage 81 in the brake controlling valve device having a choke 89 inserted therein. Slidably mounted in the chamber 86 is a slide valve 96 which is arranged to be operated by a notched stem or follower 9| operatively secured at one end to the flexible diaphragm 85 and at the other end to a similar flexible diaphragm 92. The diaphragm 92 together with a wall of the casing 26 serves to define a chamber 93 which is in constant open. communication with the seat of slide valve by way of. a passage 94. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the slide valve 96 controls communication by way of a passage between the chamber 86 and a diaphragm chamber 96, which is defined bya wall of the casing 20 and a flexible diaphragm 91.

Defined by the diaphragms 91 and 85 and a wall of the casing 26 is a chamber 98, which chamber is constantly open to atmosphere by way of a passage 99. Contained in the chamber 98 and abutting the diaphragm 91 is a follower Hill] which also serves as a seat for a spring IUI. A follower I62 operatively engages the diaphragm 85 and is slidably carried at one end within the follower I99 so as to form a cage for the spring Iill. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, a retainer ring Iiiila mounted in the follower I90 may be engaged by an outwardly extending rim 1211 of the follower I62 to prevent separation of the thus assembled spring cage and also enables the predetermination of one value of the spring IBI as will appearmor'e fully later.

The relay valve mechanism I9 which may be operative during a brake application, may comprise a' diaphragm I64 clamped about its periphery between two portions of the casing 20. At one side of the diaphragm I96 is a chamber )5 which is always open to atmosphere by way of an opening I96, chamber 32 and passage 33. Contained in this chamber H65 and operatively engagedby the diaphragm IM is a follower and stem I6! which extends through the opening I96 into chamber 32 where it engages the outer end of an arm !68. The other end of the arm II'JB makes a pivotal connection by means of a pin I99 with one end of an arm i I9 which is pivotally mounted to the casing 29 at its other end on a pin I la. The arms I66 and I I6 together (Fig. 2) constitute the scale beam lever 49. At the other side of the diaphragm it! is a chamber iII which chamber is connected to the brake cylinder device 8 by way of a passage H2, pilot valve portion H, passage l6 and pipe H, the specific connection through the pilot valve portion being later described.

The relay valve mechanism M may further comprise another diaphragm H3 similar to diaphragm I94, and similarly mounted, in laterally spaced relation to said diaphragm I64. At one side of the diaphragm I it is a chamber I I4 which is always open to atmosphere by way of an opening I I5, chamber 32 and passage Contained in this chamber H4 and operatively engaged bythe diaphragm H3 is a follower and stem H6 which extends through the opening I I5 into the chamber 32 where it engages the arm III]. of the scale beam 49 at a point intermediate its ends. The

is-hollow-and radially perforate so that, when assembled with a valve seat member I H which has a through bore and is slidably mounted in a chamber H8 at the other side of the diaphragm II 3, a passage II 9 is formed for establishing communication between the chamber II 8 and the chamber II 4. Chamber II 8 is also in constant open communication with the supplementary or load compensating brake cylinder device 9 by way of a passage and pipe I20. A release valve I2Iis mounted in the passage I I9for controlling communication between the chamber H8 and the chamber II4. Located to the left from the left hand surface of the release valve I2I and preferably formed integral therewith is a forked portion I22, which is spaced axially away from and extends toward the axis of the valve, the space between the forked portion and the top of the valve I 2I being provided for the accommodation of an extension of a supply valve I23 operatively mounted in a chamber I24 in the casing 2fi-for controlling communication between the chamber I I8 and the chamber I24. The chamber I24 is in constant open communication with the supplementary, or load, reservoir 6 by way of a passage I25, a check valve chamber I26 and a passage and pipe I21. Contained in the chamber I24 is a spring I28 which constantly urges valve I23 toward its seated position in which it is shown.

The pilot valve portion IT is provided for the purpose of controlling the flow to the relay valve mechanism I4 of fluid under pressure being supplied to the brake cylinder device 8 so that at the initial charging pressures the differential between the supply to and delivery from the pilot valve portion I1 is approximately 8 pounds which is gradually reduced as the pressure of the fluid supplied increases until at 50 pounds pressure there is substantially no differential. The pilot valve portion I I may comprise two spaced and axially aligned diaphragms I 29 and I30 which are securely clamped at their outer peripheries between two connected parts of the casing 20. At the outer side of the larger diaphragm I29 is a chamber I 3| which is in constant open communication with the look-out valve portion I8 by way of a passage I8 and with the brake cylinder device 8 by way of the passage 16 and pipe 11. At the inner side of the diaphragm I29 is a chamber I32 which is in constant open communication with the chamber III in the relay valve portion I 4 by way of a passage H2 and with a chamber I33 at the inner side of the diaphragm I30 by way of a choke I34 inserted in a branch H20 from passage II2. At the outer side of the diaphragm I32 is a chamber I35 which chamber is constantly open to atmosphere by way of a passage I36. Contained in the chamber I35 is a spring I31 which acts through the medium of a follower I38 to exert a constant downward pressure on the diaphragm I32.

Extending from the chamber I33 to the chamber I32 in axial alignment with the diaphragms I28 and I32 is a bore I39, which bore has operably mounted therein a combined diaphragm follower and plunger I 49. This plunger I40 engages the diaphragm I30 and is slidably mounted in the upper end of the bore I 39 so as to close communication by way of the bore between the chamber I33 and a chamber I4I in the bore at the lower end of the plunger, which chamber I4] is constantly open to passage I I2and thereby to chambars; I3,2 and, I 33at the inner. sides of the, respective, diaphragms I29 and I30.

Contained in thechamber MI and operatively mounted in the bore I39 is a valve member I42 which controls communication between the chamber MI and a chamber I43 defined by the periphery of a reduced portion of the valve member and the bore I39 and constantly connected. to chamber I3I by way of the passage I6. The valve member I42 is provided with a through axialbore I44 which is connected by means of a cross channel at its upper end to the chamber MI. The lower end of the bore I44 is provided with a valve seat for operative engagement with a valve I45 which is .slidably mounted in the bore I44 and controls communication between said bore and a chamber I46 which chamber is in constant open, communication with the atmosphere by way of a passage I 41. For operating the valve I45 andthe member I42, there is attached to the diaphragm I29 a follower member I48 which is slidably guided in the bore I39 with which it eifects a sealing engagement by means of a sealing ring I49. The follower member I48 thus closes communication between the chamber I46 and the chamber MI by way of the bore I39.

OPERATION Initial charging of the equipment Assuming the vehicle embodying this invention tobe empty and separated from a train, brakes on, the vehicle-to be released, the brake pipe I to be depleted of fluid under pressure and the fulcrum 43 to be temporarily disposed in the empty position in which it is shown, the brake controlling valve device 3 will be in brake applied position and the several other parts will be in the positions in which they are shown.

[Now if the empty vehicle is placed in a train, the brake pipe I will, of course, be connected at each end of the vehicle to the corresponding brake pipe at the adjacent end of each adjacent vehicle in the train and as a result will be charged with fluid under pressure in the usual manner. Fluid under pressure-thus supplied to the brake pipe I flows through the branch pipe 2 to the chambers at the faces of the service and emergency pistons of the brake controlling valve device 3, moving them in due course to release and. charging positions. Fluid under pressure will then flow to the several chambers of the brake controlling valve device 3, and thence in the usual manner to the auxiliary reservoir 4 by way of a pipe I50 and-to the emergency reservoir 5 by way of a pipe I 5I.

At the same time fluid under pressure in the brake pipe I will also flow to thesupplementary reservoir 6 by way of the branch pipe 2, passage 88 and choke 89 in the brake controlling valve device 3, connected pipe and passage 87, past the spring loaded check valves I52 into chamber I26,in the variable load valve mechanism I and thenceby way of a pipe and passage I21 to the reservoir.

Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the passage 81 will also flow to the slide valve chamber 86in the cut-off valve portion I6, and the inner surfaces of the diaphragms 85 and 92 will both be subject to the pressure fluid thus supplied. Since the diaphragms have equal and oppositely effective areas and they are positively connected by means of the follower and stem BI the fluid pressure in chamber 86 will be ineffective to cause th slide valve 90 to be moved out of the position in which it is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. With the slide valve '90- in the position in which itis shown, fluid under pressure in chamber 86 may flow by way of a port l53 in the slide valve 90 and the passage 95 in the casing 20 to the chamber 96 to act over the relatively larger area of the diaphragm 91. Upgn an increase in the pressure of fluid in the chamber 96 to a degree suflicient to overcome the opposing pressure of the spring NH, the diaphragm 91 will act in response to this fluid pressure-to move the follower I upwardly against the pressure of the spring until the follower engagesa shoulder 154 formed in the wall of the chamber 98. With the follower I02 abutting the v:follower 9| and the latter being in its uppermost position, the spring ID! will be compressed, thereby increasing the value of the spring to a certain predetermined degreefor a purpose which will hereinafter more fully appear.

Fluid under pressure supplied to the chamber 186 may also flow by way of a choke I55 and a port 56 in the slide valve 90 and then by way of the passage 12 to the reset reservoir 13, and also by way of the passage 12 to the seated side of the check valve M in the look-out valve portion l8. It will be understood that during initialcharging the brakes will be released and therefore there will be'no fluid pressure in the brake cylinder device 8 or the chamber 15in communication therewith. Consequently, the diaphragm 69 (Fig.

4) will be inoperative and the bias spring 84. f alone will be effective, through the medium of the valve 80, follower l9, diaphragm 69 and a follower H1, in holding the valve M in its closed position in which it is shown; In response to an increase in the pressure of fluid in the passages 12 to a certain degree, the valve 14 will be actuated downwardly out of its seatedposition against the force of the spring 84 acting through the just mentioned medium, thereby permitting fluid under pressure to flow from the passage 12 into thechamber ill. The pressure of fluid in the chamber 19 acting over the area of the diaphragm 69, which area .is" considerably larger than that of the. valve M, will be more effective in causing the diaphragm to deflect downwardly. The diaphragm 59 will therefore continue to deflect downwardly until the valve 80 is actuated to its closed, or seated position, in which position communication of passage 8| to atmosphere will be closed. Fluid under pressure supplied to chamber 19 will flow by way of the passage H to a j cavity I58 in the slide valve 90, whence it may flow by wayofa passage 66to the Supply chamber 65 in the locking portion l and by way of a passage5'4 to the control chamber 53 in the looking portion.

I Since the chamber 56 atone side ofthe diaphragm 52 is at atmospheric pressure, the fluid pressure in chamber 53 acting on the opposite side of the diaphragm will be opposed only by the force of the spring 58. When the pressure of. fluid inchamber 53 reaches a predetermined further to the left and, through themedium of the follower 55 and thrust member 68, actuate t v se'jte the left against the additional i0 pressure of the spring 61 to an unseated position. Fluid under pressure in chamber 65 will flow past the valve 64 into the chamber 62 where it will act over the relatively large area of the diaphragm 59, thereby increasin the pressure opposing the spring El and moving the valve 64 to a fully opened position.

Fluid under pressure supplied to the chamber 62 (Fig. 2) may now flow by way of the passage 53 to the chamber 28 in the fulcrum positioning portion l3 and by way of passages 63 and 29 to the chamber 27 in the load measuring portion I2. Since chamber 45 at the lower side of the piston M is at atmospheric pressure, fluid pressure in chamber 28 will tend to move the piston 45 toward its lowermost position in which position it is shown in Fig. 2.

When the force exerted in an upwardly direction on the piston 25 in the load measuring portion l2 by the pressure of fluid in chamber 2'5 is sufficient to overcome the opposing force of the sprin 34, the piston will be caused to move in an upward direction as viewed in Fig. 2 while the key 36 prevents the piston stem from rotating. Asthe stem 35 moves upwardly the tortuous slot 31 therein traverses a key portion of the rotatable member 38, causing the member during the initial part of this piston movement to rotate through an angle of ninety degrees in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. This rotative movement of the member 38 is transmitted to the measuring element I through the medium of the arm 39 of the member, the link 49 and the arm 4| of the collar 2!, the member 4! being keyed in a straight slot 22 of the stem l9 to which the measuring element I0 is rigidly attached. Continued upward movement of the piston 26 causes the upper end of the stem 35 to engage the left-hand end of the arm 25 and cause the arm to rock about its mounting pin in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Since the right-hand end of the arm 25 will come into operative engagement with the upper end of the stem l9, this movement will cause the stem 19 to move in a downward direction, carrying the measuring element ID with it. Thus, it will be seen that upward movement of the piston 26 causes the measuring element [0 to swing from the position in which it is shown to a position over the axle l l and then to move downwardly until a horizontal surface Illa thereof engages the axle. Assuming that the vehicle is empty, the measuring element l9 and. consequently the piston 26 will'be actuated the full limit of their travel as defined by the engagement of the upper end of piston 26 with the upper end wall of chamber 39.

Now as the piston 26 proceeded in its upward movement it passed the mouth of the passage 46 and thus connected the chamber 21 of the load measuring portion I2 to chamber 45 in the fulcrum positioning portion 13. Fluid under pressure which was being supplied to chamber 21 then flowedby way of passage 46 to the chamber 55 and subjected the lower surface of the piston 44 of the piston member 42 to substantially the same. degree of fluid pressure as that in chamber 28 acting upon the opposite side of the piston 44. The fulcrum positioning bar 41 having been previously unlocked, and the opposing forces acting on the piston 44 now being in balance, the connected piston 43 acts in response to the pressure of fluid in the chamber 28 to move the bar 41 upwardly until the pisconnect with chamber 'Z'I'.

of overbraking an empty car will be eliminated.

sure-oi the spring IDI. I thus deflect, act through the medium of the con- 11 ton 44 engages the upper end surface ofchamber 28. In this pcs'ition'of the bar 4! the fulcrum 43 will be in position for braking afully loaded vehicle. However, in the presently assumed empty condition of the vehicle, the stem 35 will be permitted to move to its uppermost position in which it is shown in dot and dash 'lines in Fig. 2 and by reason of piston "-25 be- Referring again to the cut-off valve portion IS in Fig. 4, it will be noted that fluid under pressure supplied to the passage 53 from the chamber 62 in the locking portion I5 may also flow to a cavity I59 in the slide valve-9fi. Although this cavity I53 is connected by way of the passage 8i to the chamber I8 in the look-out valve portion I8, there will not be any substantial flow throughthe passage '8! because the connection of chamber I8 to atmosphere is closed by the valve 85 as hereinbefore described. Fluid under pressure in cavity I53 will flow by way of the passage 9 to the chamber 93 where it will exert a downwardly directed force on the diaphragm 92.

Now when the pressure of fluid in the valve chamber 86 and consequently in the chamber 93 has been increased to approximately 45 pounds, the'diaphragms 85 and 92 will be caused to deflect downwardly against'the opposing pres- The diaphragms as they 'nected stem "9i to shift theslide valveQil in the same direction. When the defiection'of the-di- "aphragms"35 and'SE is brought to a stop by reason of an extension I60 formed integral'with the stem 9i engaging an interiorsurfaceof the casi1'1g' 20,-the slide valve 90 will have been moved downwardly to its lowermost, or cutmfi position (not shown).

With the slide valveQII in its lowermostposition, passage 3| will-be-blanked off, and passages 66 and "II willbe' connected together'by way of a cavity IGI in the slide valve, which cavity is in restricted communication with the atmosphere "by way of a relatively narrow passage IBIa, a cavity I62, a'choke I53 and the cavity I58 '-i nthe slide valve and an atmospheric passage I64 in the slide valve seat. Since, under the assumed condition of therebeing no brake cylinder-"pressure present, the valve is in the 'lock out valve portion I8 is unseated, fluid pressure in the reset or timing reservoir 13 will equalize with that in ch'ambertii'by way of passage I2, past valve I4,

chamber TI], passage TI, cavityIIiU and passage 56, and also slowly vent to atmosphere by way of cavity IEO, passage IBI, cavity I52, choke I63, cavity I58 and'the atmospheric passage I64.

Although the fiuid pressure in the reset reservoir "I3 may equalize with that in passage ti3fby way-of the above described route tochainber 65, past valve B Z to chamber 62, and thence to passage 33, the cavity I58 serves to eiiect a direct connection between the reservoir and the passage 53, which connection thus by-p'asses valves '64 and'lt'in' the locking portion-I5 and-the lockout valve portionm, respectively.-As previously described, cavity ISZi's connected to -'atmosphere by wayof the choke I63,cavity"-I58and'passage454.

With the slidevalve 90 in its lowermost position, cavity 158 is 'not'only in registration with atmospheric passage I34 but'also with passage '95; whereby the 'pressure of' fluid in chamber '96 is vented to atmosphere. Upon reduction'of fluid pressure in'chamber' fi'to atmosphere, thespring "NH willexpand and act through the medium of the followeriilll'to-move the diaphragm HT-downwar'dly towardits lowermost position in which it is'shown, thereby reducing the force exerted upwardly by the springIIlI. 'In cut-on position, port I 56 registers withpassage 94 so that'cham- "ber 86 maycommunicate by wayof choke I55,

cavity I56 and passage 94 with chamber 93 at the upper side of diaphragm 92 and thereby "equalize thdfluidpressure actin "on the fdiaphragni 92. The pressure of fluid in chamber 86 acting in a'downward direction on diaphragm '85 will be 'sumcient to hold the follower 9| in its lowermost'position until some predetermined lowdegree of pressure such as 25 pounds is present in the brakepipe.

' Attention is here directed to the fact that, by reason of the novel spring and port control arrangement employed in the cut-ofi valve portion I5, said'portion'willoperate'to its cut-ofif position wherrthebrakerpipe pressure is increased up to 4'5"pounds,'and will operate to its cut-in position when the brake pipepressure is reduced down "to 25" pounds. Thus it will be seen that protection'against undesired operation of the mechanism I2 upon an overreduction in brake pipe pressure at a service rate is well assured, and

"operation of 'themechanism upon increasing the brake pipe pressure from atmospheric pressure made'morenearly positive.

With the slide'valvefifl in its lowermost position, cav'iW I58 will alsobe in registration with passage'54. Fluidunder pressure in chamber 53 will flow to atmosphere by way of passage 54, cavity I58 and passage I64. When the pressure of fluid in chamber '53 acting on diaphragm 52 is reduced below the'oppo'sing pressure of the spring 58,'thespring'will cause the follower 55 to move "toward'the "right until the toothed end looks with the toothed portion 5| of the fulcrum positioning bar 37. Since the volume of chamber 53 and'passage "5 4 is much smaller than the total volume of the resetreservoinpassage 63 and the ports with which it is connected, and since the'latter volume is connected to atmosphere by "way of the'ch'oke 163m" the slide valve, it will-be apparent that the locking operation will precede thereturn of theload measuring mechanism I2.

With the passage-t3 connected to atmosphere, fluid under pressure in the chamber 62 will flow to atmosphere by way of the passage 63, cavity I32, choke I63, cavity I58 and passage I54, When the pressure of fluid in chamber 62 acting on the diaphragm'59is reduced below the opposing force of the spring 57, the spring will cause the diaphragm to deflect to the right and carry the valve fi l toward its seated position.

With the passage 53 connected'to atmosphere,

" fluid under pressure in chamber 27 will-also fiow to atmosphere by way of passages 29 and 63, the

cavity 152, the choke I63, cavity I58 and the "atmospheric passage I64. Fluid under pressure in-chamber 45 will atthis time flow to-atmosphere 'by way oi passage lfi, chamber 21, passage 29 to passage- 63 and the same route. "pressure inchamber 28' will also flow 'toatmos- Fluid under .the diaphragm I30.

grasses 'phe're'by way of the connected passage 63 and the same route. Upon the reduction of the pressure of fluid in chamber 21 below the opposing pressure of the spring 34 the spring will act to move the piston 26 downwardly toward the posi- 3 tion in which it is shown in Fig. 2. As the piston 26 moves downwardly away from the left-hand end of the lever 25 the pressure of spring 23 thus released will cause the measuring element I to first move upwardly above the axle II and then if) to rotate approximately 90 in a clockwise direction to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The fulcrum positioning bar 41 having just previously been locked by the stem 55 will remain in the position in which it is shown.

Chamber will now be open to atmosphere by way of passage 46, chamber 30, passage 3I, chamber 32 and passage 33.

The reset or timing reservoir 13 will be slowly vented to atmosphere by way of passage I2, cavity 2'0 I32, choke I63, cavity I58 and passage I64. As previously noted, by reason of the choke I63 this reservoir is not reduced to atmospheric pressure until after the lockin portion I5 has locked the The pressure in this reservoir I3 there- =i2 '5 bar 41. fore will equalize with the piston chambers 28, 45 and 21 and thus hold the pistons 44 and 2'! in their load adjusting positions until after the portion I5 has locked the bar 41.

Application of the brakes on an empty vehicle When it is desired to effect an application of the brakes, the brake pipe pressure is reduced in the usual manner, causing the brake controlling valve device 3 to function to supply fluid under pressure from theauxiliary reservoir l to the brake'cylinder device 8 in order to advance the usual brake shoes, not shown, into frictional engagement with the vehicle wheels. The flow of to be explained later.

cut off the further flow of fluid from chamber I43 to chamber MI when the pressure in chamber I32 has reached a predetermined degree in relation to the pressure in the chamber I3 I. The choke I34 in that part of the passage II2 leading to the chamber I33 serves to delay the building up of fluid pressure in chamber I33 until the fluid pressure acting upwardly on the larger diaphragm I29 is counterbalanced by the fluid pressure in chamber I32 acting downwardly on the diaphragm I23. Thus, possible overshooting of the pressure desired in passage H2 and chamber I32 by unseating the valve I32 too suddenly ortoo far may be avoided. It is preferred that; the

relation of the diaphragm areas and the spring force be such that at approximately 50 pounds pressure in chamber I3I (equalization point between the brake cylinder and auxiliary reservoir 0 pressure) the diaphragm I23 will be ineffective fluid under pressure from the auxiliary reservoir 3 to the brake cylinder device 8 is by way of the "pipe I53, through the controlling valve device 3 and the brake cylinder pipe 'i'l. time fluid unde pressure flows by way of the At the same pipe TI and passage 16 to the chambers I3I and" M3 in the pilot valve portion I'I.

Upon a slight increase in the pressure of fluid in the chamber I3I the diaphragm I29 will be caused to flex upwardly, acting through the me- I dium of the follower M8 to move the valve I45 to a seated position on the lower end of the valve member I42, in which position communication between the chamber I43 and the atmosphere by way of the bore M4 in the valve member I32,

past the fluted stem of the valve I45 and through the passage M1 is cut off.

Upon the further increase in the pressure of fluid in chamber I3I, which pressure is the same as that supplied to the brake cylinder device 3, l

the diaphragm I29 will be deflected upwardlyagainst the opposing pressure of the spring I31 acting through the medium of a spring seat and follower I65. This additional upward movement of the diaphragm I23 will cause the valve I42 to move out of its seated position so that fluid under pressure supplied from the brake controlling valve device 3 to chamber I43 as previously noted may now flow past the valve I42 into chamber MI, and thence by way of passage II2 to chamber III in the relay valve portion I4 Fluid under pressure in chamber I'4I may also flow by way of passage II2 to the chamber I32 at the upper side of the diaphragm I29, and byway of passage I I2, choke I34 to chamber I33 at the lower side of a release of the vehicle brakes.

and in response to this pressure, the diaphragm .130 will be effective to maintain the combined spring seat and follower I65 in its uppermost position. Thus an initial 8 pound difference in the pressure of fluid in chamber I3I over that in chamber I32 is decreased in proportion to the degree of increase in the brake application until at a full service application (50 pounds brake cylinder pressure) the pressures in these chambers are equal.

With the vehicle empty, the fulcrum 48 will be inthe position in which it is shown in Fig. 3,

in which position the diaphragm IM will be prevented by the fulcrum 38 from moving the follower and stem I01 to the right in response to the pressure of fluid in the chamber III, and consequently valves I'2I and I23 will remain in the positions in which they are shown. The mechanism I being inoperative to cause the load compensating brake cylinder device 9 to operate, the brake cylinder device 8 only will exert the braking force.

Release of the brakes with the equipment conde'tio'ned for empty car operation When it is desired to effect a release of the brakes, the brake pipe pressure is increased in the usual manner causing the brake controlling valve device 3 to function to establish communication from the brake cylinder device 3 to atmosphere by way of a retainingvalve device I33. Fluid under pressure now flows by way of pipe ll from the brake cylinder device 8 to the brake controlling valve device 3, and from there by way of a pipe Ifil to the retaining valve device I65 which connects pipe I6! directly to atmosphere when a handle I38 on the device IE3 is in the position in which it is shown. 'Brake cylinder device 8 now responds to the'release of fluid under pressure therefrom in the usual manner to effect Upon therelease of fluid under pressure from the pipe ll fluid under pressure will also be released from the chamber I3I of the pilot valve portion If. by way 1-5 device 3,-pipe-I61 and the' retaining valve device I66to atmosphere.

Upon 'the release :of fluid from the chamber I-3I, the diaphragm I29 'willbe-moved-to-the position in which it is shown-in the drawing by the pressure of the fluid in the chamber "I32. Fluid" under pressure in chamber MI andbore I44 will cause the valve Hi5 to unseat-and' thereby permit fluid under pressure in' chamber I lI to flow to'atmosphere by way of 'the'bore I44, the fluted stem of the valve I45, thechamberl46 and the passage Ml; Fluid under pressure from the chamberl I I in the relay valve-portion I4 will flowby way of passage-I I2 to the chamber 'I4I and thence to atmosphere in the manner just described.

Automatic changeover of the equipment on a partially loaded vehicle Assuming now that the brakes on thevehicle are applied andthat the vehicle is separated from the train and that while the brake pipe is at atmospheric pressure; lading is placed on thebody of the vehicle. Under the influence of such additional weight, the vehicle body will move downwardly relative to the axle I I by reason of the usual truck'springs (not shown) yielding to the additional weight.

Now when' the vehicle is connected in a train, the brake pipe starts to'charge with fluid under pressure in the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with the charging of an emptyvehicle. As before described, fluid under pressure which is supplied to'the brake pipe I I6; whence it flows by way of passage 12 to the reset reservoir '33 and to the seated area of the valve-74L With the brakes'applied, however, fluid under pressure from the brake cylinder pipe "II will be present in chamber l5 and acting in an upward direction on the diaphragm 69. The

value of the spring 84 and the relationbetween the opposing areas of the valve 74 and the dia- 'phragm 69 will be such that the valve willbe been reduced to some predetermined low-degree such as 10 pounds.

' As previously noted, brake cylinder pressure in pipe 11 is also communicated'by way ofthe valve portion I5 where it acts upon the diaphragm I64 to exert a force upon the Iulcrun'1-= il3. As will hereinafter appear, under partially or fully loaded conditions this. action or the diaphragm I04 will cause the diaphragm i 3 to also'operate to exert 60 an additional force on the fulcrum it; Obviously it isnot desirable to shift the fulcrum while under the stress of the forces exerted bydiaphragm III alone, or by'both diaphragms. Thelock-out pressure being supplied to the fulcrum positioning portion I3, as hereinbefore described in connection with "the-initial charging of the equipment, from effecting its operation until after the flows to chamber'iifi in the cut-oif valve portion 35 pilot valve portion I lto chamber 4 I I in the relay 'valvenportion l8, therefore, prevents fluid under stresses on the fulcrum have been substantially flli eliminated.

It will further be noted that, because of the op- By the use of the reset reservoir'it in. combinationvwith the look-out valve portion I8, the load-adjusting ioperation-of the portions 12 and I3 is assured regardless of the rate of rise in brakepipe prea" sure, 1 that: is 1 toasay, regardless of the relative loe-ation ofthe car in the train. Let us suppose that an emergency application of the brakes had'previously been made just priorto this brake release-operation, and, that the vehicle equipped with this -load compensating apparatus is located at ornearhtheheacl end of the train. In effectinga release. under these conditions, the brake pipe pressure at the head end will rise rapidly to its normal pressure. This rapid rise in pressure will-not register however in the slide valve chamber til-because of a choke Ill] inserted in the-passage 81.

When the valve 14 'unseats, fluid under pressurein the passage I2 will flow to the supply chamberGEl-in the locking portion I5 by way of chamber l6,passage-'II,' cavity I 58 and passage 67. This fluid pressure will not by itself be sufll- -cient to unseat the valve 64. Fluid under pressure in 'cavity 158 will also flow to chamber 53 in the locking portion I5 by way of passage 54. vIn response tothe pressure of fluid in chamber -53,- the. diaphragm 52 will move to the left against thepressureof' the spring 58, thereby causing the member 55 to move out of locking engagement with the fulcrum positioning bar 41. Thereafter-,.-the diaphragm will act through the medium of-the thrust member 68 to unseat the valve 64 and permit fluid under pressure supplied to chamber to flow by way of passage 63 to chamber 28 in the fulcrum positioning portion I3.

. The bar 47,'having been previously unlocked, will be actuated downwardly by the piston 44 to its empty position, if not already there. Fluid under pressure in passage 63 will also flow by way of passage 29 to chamber 21 in the load measuring portion I2. The pressure of fluid in chamber 21 will eflect the upward movement of the piston 26, which movement willcause the measuring element Ill to rotate into a position above the axle and then to descend-into engagement therewith. Upward movement of the piston 26 past the mouth of the passage 46 will connect held seated until the-brake cylinder pressure has 45 'Chamberfl to chamber 65 and equalize the Pressures acting on piston 44. Fluid pressure in chamber.23 will cause the piston member 42 to actuate the bar 4'! upwardly and bymeansof the bar 47 rock the leverbfl in a clockwise direction untilthe right-hand end of said lever engages the ..upper end of the stem 35. I When the vehicle was empty, the piston26 operated the lever 59 backto-iempty position. Now however,

if thevehicle is partially loaded, the car body will have lowered as aresultof the addedweight of such load and the stem 35 .will stop short of itsfulltravel by reason of the measuring'element .IE] traveling a shorter distance to engage the axle ML The bar t! will be actuated downwardly only part of itsfull travel and consequentlyothe fulcrum-'48 will be located at some point inter- :mediate the-middle of the scale beam lever 49 and therposition in which-the fulcrum is shown.

When-the brake pipe pressure is increased to thedegree required to effect the operation of the cut-off valve portion I6, this portion will operate as described before torapidly vent fluid under'pressure from chamber 53 to atmosphere. With chamber :53- thus' vented, the diaphragm -52 will respond to theforce of the spring 58 to move the follower and stem 55 into engagement with the toothed portion 5| of the bar'41 to hold the bar -and thereby the'fulcrumlfl in their newly assumed positions.

Fluid under pressure in chambers 21, 28, 45,

a a s 62, 65 and III will be vented to atmosphere at a slowerrate by reason of the choke i163 in the slide valve 90 restricting the communication. When fluid pressure in chamber 62 drops below that of the opposing spring 61, said spring wlll actuate the supply valve 64 to its seat in prepa-' ration for the next load adjusting operation, Reduction of fluid pressure in chamber fIII to atmosphere will'permit the spring 84 to actuate the valve I4 to its seated position and will also permit unseating of the valve 80, thereby connecting passage 8| to atmosphere. This is of little consequence at this time since one end of passage 9| is blanked off by the slide valve9ll. However, when the next emergency'application of the brakes is made, any fluid pressure which might accidentally developin passage 63 while the brakes are applied will be vented to atmos: phere by way of cavity I59in the slide valve 90, passage 8|, chamber 80, and thence past valve 80 to chamber 82 and passage 83, Thus it will be noted that the valve 80 alsoserves as an ad-' ditional means to prevent the operation of the load measuring portion I2 with the brakes applied.

With the chamber 21 of the load measuring portion I2 vented of fluid under pressure, the spring34 acts toreturn the piston 26 and the piston stem 35 to the position in which they are shown. In so doing, it will cause the measuring element In to first rise vertically upward and then to rotate in a clockwise direction to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. When thepiston 21 in its downward movement passes the mouth of the passage 46, chamber 45 is ing valve mechanism "I determined according to the amount of movement of the measuring element I transferred by the lever 50 to the fulcrum shifting bar 41, and the transfer of movement being determined according to the load on the vehicle, the equipment is now in condition for braking a partially loaded vehicle.

Application of the brakes on a partially loaoled vehicle When an application of the brakes is made on a partially loaded vehicle by efiecting a reduction in brake pipe pressure, the operation of the brake controlling valve device 3 will be identical with the operation described for an empty vehicle. that fiuid under pressure will be supplied through pipe 11 to the brake cylinder device 8, from pipe TI to chamber I3I in the pilot valve portion I6 by way of passage I6, and therefrom to chamber III in relay valve portion I by way of passage H2 in a manner previously described for the application of the brakes-on an empty vehicle.

The pressure of fluid in chamber III tends to deflect the diaphragm I04 and. the follower IIII to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 against the opposing pressure of a spring I66. It is pre ferred that this spring I66 be equivalent to a value of 5 pounds fluid pressure acting on the diaphragm I04. By reason of the fact that the pilot valve portion I'I creates at low pressures a difierence of 8 pounds between the pressures in passages 16 and H2 as previously explained and th spring I66 holds back operation until 5 additional pounds pressure are present in the From this it will be understood chamber I.II, there is approximately l3 pounds pressure "in the' brake cylinder device 8 when the load compensating brake cylinder device 9 at atmospheric pressure whereby slack" take-up in the rigging before the 'brake'cylinder device 9 operates is assured, and complete release of device 9 before slack in the rigging is letoutis assured. a N

When the fluid pressure, in jcharnber III, is sufi'icient to overcome the pressure of spring I66, the stem and follower";IIII will be caused to move to the right," thereby rocking' the lever I08 in a counter-clockwisedirectionabout the fulcrum 48, which is now located atsome point intermediate the point inwhich it'is shown and the middle of the composite scale beam lever 49. Rocking of the lever I08 in this direction will effect through the medium of thepin I09'the rocking of the lever III] in a clockwise direction; As the lever IIII is thus rocking it causes the} diaphragm 3 to deflect tothe leftand actuates the valve seat member I I1 in'tosealing engagement with the'relea'se valve I 2I and thenthrough the medium of the forkedportion 'I22 unseats the supply valve I23 against the opposin pressure of th spring I28. With the supplyvalve I23 unseated, fluid under pressure supplied from the supplementary reservoir 6, through pipe I21, chamber I26 and passage to the supply valve chamber I24 flows-therefrom past the fluted stem ofthe valve I23, through chamber II8,"and passage and pipe I20 to' the load compensating brake cylinder device l i Now when the pressure of fluid diaphragm chamber II8 acting on the diaphragm II3 be' comes slightly greater than that required to balance the force of diaphragm I04 acting through the lever 49, diaphragm 3 will move to the right, permitting the supply valve -I23 to seat. The valve I23 as it thus closes cuts off 'the further flow of fluid under pressure to the diaphragm chamber H8 and consequently to the brake cylinder device 9. With the flowof-fiu'id to chamber 8 cut ofi, the flexure' to the right of the diaphragm H3 comes to a stopbefore the release valve I2l is unseated. l When, in efiecting an application of the brakes on a partially loaded vehicle, fluid under pressure is supplied to the brake cylinder device 9, 's aid device functions to actuate a brake'cylinder lever- I69 to first bring thebrake shoe elements (not shown) into frictional engagement with the Wheels (not shown) and 'then to causea'push' rod III] of the brake cylinder device 9 to be moved outwardly relative to its associated piston rod and piston. As thepiston' and piston rod'ofwthe device 9 move out under the :influenceI-of r the pressure of fluid supplied thereto, alatch mech-' anism III functions in the"usua-l..wel1" known. manner to latch the notch push rod I'Ill,.so thatfurther movement of the piston of "the brake cylinder device9 now acts, through the-medium of thelatchr mechanism and pushsrod, onthe. brake cylinder lever I69. to add the-forceof .the load .compensating 'b'rake cylinder device 9 to that of the brake cylinder device 8.

' When it iisdesired to effect a 'releaseof the brakes on a partially loaded vehicle, the brake controlling valve device- 3 will function in re-j sponse to an increase inbrake pipe pressure-to vent fluid under pressure from the brake cylin erl ce. 2 "a m phere y; was? of the i e.

19 i 11, valve, device. 3. pipe 1.61 and, anatmospheric. passage in the retaining valve device [66 when the handle 16.1 is in the position shown and cause the. brake cylinder .device 8 to respond in. the

usual manner to efiect a releasev of the brakes.

Since, chamber [.31 in the pilot valve portion I1 is connected to the pipe 11 by way of a, pas-1 sa e. 16, the res l ing reduction. in he. pressur of fluid in chamber l3l will effect a reduction of fluid pressure in the chamber ill in the relay 2 valve portion M in the same manner and by the same route as previously described for the release or the brakes with the equipment conditioned for braking an empty vehicle, When the pressure of fluid, in chamber H1 is reduced below that. reduired tov keep the-scale. beam lever in balance, the excess fluid pressur in chamber I I8 will cause the diaphragm H 3 together with follower and stem [16 to move to. the right, thereby rocking thev lever H in a counter clockwise direction about the pin 0a,, the lever H18 in a clockwise direction about. the pin I09, and with. the aid of the spring I66 causing the diaphragm I04 to defleet. toward the left. In moving to the right the diaphragm H3. operatesto unseat the release valve lZl through the medium of the follower nd s em us and the alve seat member H9. With the valve l2! unseated, fluid under pressure is vented from the brake cylinder device 9' to the atm sph re. y way of p pe. and passa e l20,

chamber H8, pastthe fluted stem of the valve. l2| to chamber H4, opening H5, chamber 3 2; and passage 33 When the pressure of fluid'in chamber H8 has been redu ed to sligh ly b l that of the. opposing force of the diaphragm I04, act ng through the medium of the lever 4.9,; he. diaphragm (04. will cause the lever its to rock ina. counter-clockwise direction, and; the. lever H0, to rock in a, clockwise, direction, actuating the valve seat member I ll into engagement with the valve 12,: and, cutting on the fur her flow of fluid under pressure, from the brake cylinder device 9; and hamber H8 to atmosphere 7 It will be readily Seen. that as the, load increases, the fulcrum 48 is shifted further up, until it reaches a position at the middle of the; lever 41, a which point the levera e ratio be 1 to. 1 and h fluid pressure in. the load comp nsating brake cylinder device 9 plus the pressure of the spring l,66, plus the differential in pressure estab.- lished by the. pilot valve portion L1- will equal. the fluid pressure in the brake cylinder device 8;.

Summary Summarizing, it: will be seen that by the use of this invention there is. provided a variable load brake apparatus for railway vehicles, which is. automatic. and positive in operation, to vary the, degree of braking of the vehicle in accordance. with the empty or loaded condition thereof by varying the supply of fluid under pressure firom a supplementary reservoir to a supplementary or load brake, cylinder according to. the position that the sprung vehicle body assumes: under various loads relative to a vertically fixed part. of a truck. This invention provides novel valve means whereby the, adjusting operation'accord ing to load occurs each time the apparatus is charged after an emergency reduction in brake pipe is effected, regardless of the position oi the. vehicle in the train. This. invention further. pm vides a novel pilot. valve device. which provides. a. difierence in pressures of the. empty and load brake cylinders at, the beginning of an appliedtion and the final period of a release of the brakes so that the load brake cylinder is last to apply and first to release in order to prevent possible damage to its latch mechanism. There is also provided a novel cut-off valve devicev which conditions the apparatus for an adjusting operation as the brake pipe pressure rises from below a predetermined low degree to a certain. high degree and then terminates, the adjusting operation. The cut-ofi valve device will not permit a re-set. of the apparatus unless the brake pipe pressure is reduced below said predetermined low degree. This invention also provides, in a variable load brake of the type. having an adju'stable member and a. mechanism for locking the member in its adjusted position, a fluid pressure responsive means biasing said member toward a position for braking an empty vehicle, which means is efiective only during the adjusting period so that strain on the locking mechanism will be eliminated at all other times, This latter means by reason of its direction of bias prevents over-braking of an empty vehicle which might occur as a result of a failure of the adjusting mechanism on an empty vehicle to operate after having previously conditioned the brake equipment for braking a loaded vehicle.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a vehicle having a sprung part and an unsprung part, said sprung part being movable vertically relative to said unsprung part distances varying according to. the, different loads carried by the sprung part, and a fluid pressure brake equipment. carried by said sprung part and conditionable according, to the distance the sprung part moves vertically relative to. the unsprung part for operation to. provide the braking power called for by the load carried, of a, mechanism carried by said sprung part and adapted to cooperate with said unsprung part for conditioning said fluid pressure brake equipment, said mechanism comprising a member cooperating with said fluid pressure brake equipment and being movable to. condition the equipment, a measuring element carried by one of said parts adapted to be moved into engagement with the other of said parts and to determine according to the degree of movement of the element the position to which said member shall be moved, means for biasing said member toward: empty position, fluid pressure responsive means operable to move said element into said engagement, and a second fluid pressure responsive means incapable of overpowering the first and arranged to shift said member toward fullload position.

2'. The combination with a vehicle having a sprung part and an unsprung part, said sprung part being movable vertically relative to said unsprung part distances varying according to different loads carried by the sprung part, and a fluid pressure brake equipment carried by said sprung part and oonditionable according to the distance the sprung part moves vertically relative to the unsprung part for operation to provide the braking power called for by the load carried, of a mechanism carried by said sprung part and adapted to. cooperate with said unsprung part for conditioning said fluid pressure brake equip- Y, pressure brake, equipment,, a measuring element.

carried by said sprung part adapted to be moved into engagement with said-unsprung part and to determine accordingly the position to which said member shall be moved, a fluid pressure responsive means operable to bias said member toward its empty position, another means responsive to fluid pressure to operate said measuring element, and a third fluid pressure responsive means operative as an incident to the operation of said other means to actuate said member out of said empty position into engagement with said other means to be adjusted thereby according to load.

3. The combination with a vehicle having a sprung part and an unsprung part, said sprung part being movable vertically relative to said unsprung part distances varying according to different loads carried by the sprung part, and a fluid pressure brake equipment carried by said sprung part and conditionable according to the distance the sprung part moves'vertically relative to the unsprung part for operation to provide the braking power called for by the load carried, of a mechanism carried by said sprung part and adapted to cooperate withsaid unsprung part for conditioning said fluid pressure brake equipment, said mechanism comprising a member cooperating with said fluid pressure brake equipment and being movable between an empty position and a load position to condition the fluid pressure brake equipment, a measuring element carried by said sprung part adapted to be moved into engagement with said unsprung part and to determine accordingly the position to which said member shall be moved, means responsive to fluid pressure to actuate said measuring element into engagement with the unsprung part, and movable abutment means responsive to the pressure of fluid supplied to the aforesaid means to first bias said member toward the empty position and then as an incident to the operation of the aforesaid means to bias said member toward load position.

4. The combination with a vehicle having a sprung part and an unsprung part, said sprung part being movable vertically relative to said unsprung part distances varying according to different loads carried by the sprung part, and a fluid pressure brake equipment carried by said sprung part and conditionable according to the distance the sprung part moves vertically relative to the unsprung part for operation to pro-.

vide the braking power called for by the load cooperating with said fluid pressure brake equipment and being movable between an empty position and a load position to condition the fluid pressure brake equipment, a measuring element carried by said sprung part adapted to be moved into engagement with said unsprung part and to determine accordingly the position to which said member shall be moved, fluid pressure responsive means for first biasing said member toward empty position, then to initiate the movement of said measuring element, and thereafter to bias said member toward load position, said member then being operable thereafter by the means toward empty position until the measuring element engages the unsprung part.

5. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus having a brake pipe in which the pressure of fluid may be varied for controlling the application of the brakes, an adjusting mechanism for varying the degree of brake application for a given brake pipe reduction according to, the

weightnflthe load on the vehicle, fluidpressure motor means for actuating said adjusting mechanism, and a cut-off valve device for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe tosaid fluid pressure motor means comprising in combination, valve means having a cut-in position in which fluid under pressure from the brake pipe is supplied to said motor means and being operative to a cut-off position in which the supply of fluid under pressure to said motor means is cutofi and said motor means is connected to atmosphere, one means responsive to brake pipe pressure to urge said valve meanstoward its cut-off position, spring means biasing said valve means toward its cut-in position, and another means responsive to brake pipe pressure to increase the value of said spring means, said valve means being operative in its cut-in position to connect said brake pipe to said other means and operative in its cut-off position to disconnect brake pipe from said other means and to connect said other means to atmosphere.

, 6. ,Ina vehicle variable load brake apparatus having a brake pipe in which the pressure of fluid may be varied for controlling the application of the brakes, anadjusting mechanism for varying the degree of brake application for a given f brake pipe reduction according to the weight of the load on the vehicle, fluid pressure motor means for actuating said adjusting mechanism, and cut-off valve device for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe to said fluid pressure motor means comprising in. combination, a diaphragm assemblage comprising a pair of positively connected diaphragms serving to define a chamber which is in constant open communication with the brake pipe, a valve'disposed in said chamber operable by said assemblage to either a cut-in position in which said chamber is connected to said motor means or to a cut-off position in which said chamber is disconnected from said motor means and said motor means is connected to atmosphere, said assemblage being responsive to brake pipe pressure in either position to urge said valve toward the cut-off position, spring means biasing the assemblage toward the cut-in position, and movable abutment means operative in response to fluid pressure to increase the value of said spring, said valve being effective in its cut-in position to connect said chamber to said movable abutment means and effective in its cut-off position to connect said movable abutment means to atmosphere.

7. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus having a brake pipe in which the pressure of fluid may be varied for controlling the application of the brakes, an adjusting mechanism for varying the degree of brake application for a given brake pipe reduction according to the weight of the load on the vehicle, fluid pressure motor means for actuating said adjusting mechanism, and a cut-off valve device for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe to the fluid pressure motor means comprising in combination, a diaphragm assemblage comprising a pair of positively connected diaphragms serving to define a chamber which is in constant open communication with the brake pipe, a valve disposed in said chamber operable by. said assemblage to either a cut-in position in which said chamber is connected to said motor means or to a cut-01f position in which said chamber is cut off from said motor means and said motor means is connected to atmosphere,

gasses said assemblage being responsive to fluid pressure to urge said assemblage toward said cut-off position, spring means biasing said assemblage toward said cut-in position, means responsive to fluid pressure to increase the value of said spring means, said valve being operative in its cut-in position to subject said assemblage to fluid pressure and to connect said chamber to said means and operative in its cut-off osition to connect said means to atmosphere and to subject said assemblage to the pressure of fluid in said chamber.

3. In a fluid pressure operated load compensating brake equipment, the combination with a brake pipe and a fluid pressure responsive load measuring mechanism, of a cut-off valve device comprising a casing having two passages through which fluid under pressure may flow from the brake pipe to the load measuring mechanism,v a valve mounted in said casing operative to one position to close communication between said passages and operative to another position to open communication between said passages,- means responsive to an increase to a chosen degree in the pressure. of fluid in the brake pipe to actuate said valve to its closed position, and means responsive to a reduction in the pressure of fluid in the brake ipe to a predetermined degree lower than said chosen degree to actuate said valve to its open osition.

9. In a load compensating mechanism for a vehicle fluid pressure brake equipment, a variable leverage ratio relay valve mechanism comprising a member adjustable for conditioning the fluid pressure brake equipment for operation to provide the braking power called for by the load carried, a measuring mechanism operable to a position for ascertaining the amount of load carried and adjusting said. member to a corresponding position, motor means responsive to an increase in the pressure of fluid supplied thereto to actuate said mechanism to said position, a source of supply of fluid under pressure for operating said motormeans, and locking means interposed between said source and said motor means operative to unlatch said member before admitting fluidv under pressure from said source to said motor means,, said locking means comprising a valve normally closing communication between said source and said motor means and operable to an unseated position to open said' communication, a latch, resilient means normally holding said latch in looking engagement with said member, and movable abutment means responsive to an. increase in the pressure of fluid at said source to a chosen degree to first actuate said latch out of said; locking; engagement and then to unseat said valve;

In a variable loadi brake apparatus. having a brake pipe in which the pressure of fl'uidmay be varied and. a brake controlling, valve device operative in response to variations in the pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to supply fluid at' various pressures for effecting various degrees of brake applications, an adjusting mechanismfor varying the degree. of brakeapplication for, a given brake pipe redu'ctionaccording tothe weight of the load on'the vehicle, fluid pressure motor means for actuating said adjusting mechanism; and lock-out means for'controlling a fluid'pres sure s p ly communication between said brake pipe and said" motor' means, said lock-out means comprising a valve. operative to open and. close said communication, and movable abutment means'responsi've to the'pressure offlui'dsupplied 24 by said brake controlling valve device when above a chosen degree to actuate said valve to close said communication.

11. In a variable load brake apparatus having a brake pipe in which the pressure of fluid may be varied and a brake controlling valve device operative in response to variations in the pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to supply fluid at various pressures for effecting various degrees of brake application, an adjusting mechanism for varying the degree of brake application for a given brake pipe reduction according to the Weight of the load on the vehicle, fluid pressure motor means for actuating said adjusting mechanism, and lock-out means for preventing operation of said motor means during a brake application, said lock-out means comprising one valve having a seated position in which communication between the brake pipe and the motor means is closed and operable to an unseated position in which said communication is open, another valve having one position in which communication between the motor means and the atmosphere is open and operable to another position in which the latter mentioned communication is closed, resilient means urging said one valve toward its seated position and said other valve toward its unseated position, and movable abutment means interposed between said valves responsive to fluid supplied from the brake controlling valve device above a chosen degree to hold said one valve seated and to permit the resilient means to unseat said second valve and responsive to brake pipe pressure when the fluid pressure supplied from the brake controlling valve device is below said chosen degree to unseat said one valve and seat said other valve.

12. A measuringmechanism for a variable load brake equipment for a vehicle having a sprung body part and an unsprung truck part which is capable of angular movement in a horizontal plane relative to the sprung part, said measuring mechanism comprising a measuring element carried by said sprung part inv horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to said unsprung truck part and movable into overlapping relationship and engagement with a peripheral surface of the unsprung truck part at a point in the vertical center plane through-said part regardless of the position of said sprung part with relation to said unsprung part for conditioning the brake equiment for operation to provide the braking called for by the load, means operative to actuate said measuring element into overlapping relationwith the unsprung truck part, and means operative thereafter to actuate said measuring element into stopping engagement with the unsprung truck part.

13'. Ina device for measuring the relative change in the vertical distance between a sprung and an unsprung part'of a vehicle, the combination. with an unsprung truck part which is capable of angular movement in a horizontal plane relative t'o'the sprung'p'art', of a measuring' element carried by said sprung part and having. a surface which is in substantially'parallel relation with the horizontal center plane of said unsprung truck part, means operative to actuate said measuring element horizontally into a position inwhich it overlaps said truckt'part; means operative to" actuate said element 'aridthereby' surface vertically into engagementwitn' saidtruck'partat apoint' where the vertical center plane. tnerethrbugh will intersecttheperiphery ofgs'aiii pbrtiona'nd being'efiective to maintain said'parallel relation atall times;

25- and a member operable "by the last mentioned means to indicate the degree of vertical movement of said element f i 14. The combination with a vehicle having a sprung part and an 'unsprung part, said sprung part being movable vertically'relative to said unsprung part distances varying according to different loads carried by the sprung part, and a fluid pressure brake equipment carried by said sprung part and conditionable according to the distance the sprung part movesvertically relative to the unsprung part for operation to provide the braking power called for by the'load carried, of a mechanism carried by said sprung part and adapted to cooperate with said unsprung part for conditioning said fluid pressure brake equipment; said mechanism'compris'ing a control member having an empty position, a full load position and being adjustable therebetween to condition the equipment, a measuring element carried by said sprung part and adapted "to be moved into engagement with said'unsprungpart for correspondingly positioning said control member, fluid pressure responsivemeans for biasingsaid control me'mbertoward' said empty position; other fluid pressure responsive means operable to move said element "into said engagement and capable of overpowering the firstmentioned fluid pressure responsive means to shift said control memher from said empty position in the direction of said full load position to a position corresponding to the load onsaid 'vehicle,'and a-fluidpressure connection "for simultaneously supplying fluid under pressure to and releasing fluid under pressure from both of said fluid pressure means.

15. In a vehicle variable'load brake apparatus having a brake pipe in which the pressure of fluid may be'varied for controlling the application of the brakes an adjusting mechanism for varying the degree of brake application for a given brake pipe reduction according to the weight of theload onthe vehic1e,-fluid pressure motor means foriactuating said: adjusting mechanism, and a cut-ofi valve device for controlling the supply offlu id under pressure from'the brake pipe to said fluid pressure motor means comprising in combination, valve means having a cut-in position in which fluid under pressure from the brake pipe is supplied to said motor means and being operative to a cut-off position in which the supply of fluid under pressure to said motor means is cut off and saidmotor'means-is connected to atmosphere, pressure means for moving said valve-:m'eans :to said cut-in position,

actuating means subject to opposing pressures trolled by'said valve means for-"reducing the efifectiveness ofsaid pressure means with-respect to the opposing brake pipe pressure onsaid actuating meansin said cut-oil position. and for increasing the effectiveness of said pressure means withrespect to theopposing brake. pipe pressure in said cut-.inposition.- a; 16; In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus having a brake pipe in which the' pressure f fluid may be varied for: controlling the application of the brakes, anadjusting mechanismfor varying the degree of brake application for a given brake pipe reduction according to the vveight ofv the loa'don the vehicle, fluid pressure motor means sfor actuating, saidadjusting amech- 26 anism; and'a cut-off valve device for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from the brake pipe to said fluid pressure motor means comprising a d iaphragmsubject on one side to pressure of fluid in a chamber which is in constant open communication with the brakepipa'a valve disposed in said chamber having a cut-in position in which said chamber is connected to said motor means and operable by said diaphragm to a cutoff position in which said chamber is disconne'cted from said motor mean and said-motor means is connected to atmosphere, spring means biasing said diaphragm and valve toward said cut-in position, and movable abutment means operative in response to fluid pressure to increase 'the'value of said spring means on said diaphragm, said valvebeing efiective in its cut-in position to'connect said chamber to'said movable abutment means and effective in its cut-offposition to connect said movable abutment means to atmosphere. i

17; In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, incombination,' a brake pipe, brakecontrolling means operative upona reduction in pressure in said brake pipe to efi'ectan application of brakes on said vehicle, an adjustable mechanism for limiting the degree ofsaid brake application inaccordance with the deg-ree'of load 'carried by "the vehicle,'mot0rrrieans' operable by fluid under pressure for adjusting saidme'chanism, latch means for holding "said mechanism in an adjustedpositio'n and adapted to be render-editieffective upon asupply "o'f fluid under pressure to a control chamber, a slide valve disposed in a valve chamber open to said brake pipe and having a cut-in position and '9, cut-off position, a-"passagebonnecting said control chamber to theqseat of said slide valve, a second passage 'for conducting fluid under pressure supplied from said valve chamber tosaid motor means, a, third passage connecting said motor means to said seat, a'reset; reservoir, saidslide valve in said,

cut-in position opening the first-named passage, said -second passage and said reset reservoir to fluid under: pressure which may be supplied from said valve chamber and in-said cut-ofi position opening all of said passages to atmosphere, choke means for restricting the flow of fluid under pres sure from said third assage and said reset reservoir to atmosphere, a, valvein said second passage for controlling flow of fluid under pressure therethrough toward said motor means, resilient means biasing, the latter valve toward its seated position, means operative .by said latch means .to open saidlatter valve subsequent tosaid latch means being rendered ineffective, choke means forrestricting flow of fluid under pressure from said brakepipe to said valve chamber, and means controlled by pressure of fluidin said brake, pipe operative upon an increase, in r pressure therein for limitingthe degree of-said brake'application in: accordance withthe degree. of load ,c a, rr-ied by the vehicle,.motor means operableby fluid underpressure, for adjusting said mechanism, latch meansfor holding said, mechanism in an adj d Passi n d a e di ay Fee s ineffective upon supply of fluid under pressure toe, control chamber, a slide valve disposed in a valve chamber open to said brake pipe and having a cut-in position and a cut-oifposition, a passage connecting said control chamber to the seat of said slide .valve, a secondpassage for conducting fluid under pressure supplied from said valve chamber to said motor means, a third passage for connecting said motor means tosaid seat, a reset'reservoir, choke means for restricting flow of fluid under. pressure from said valve chamber .to said reset reservoir, said slide valve in said cut-in position opening the first named passage, said second passage and said reset reservoir to fluid under pressure which may be supplied from said valve chamber and in said out off position opening all of said passages to atmosphere, choke means for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure from said third passage to atmosphere, a valve in said second passage for controlling flowof fluid under pressure therethrough toward said motor -means, resilient means biasingthe latter valve toward itsseated position, means operative by said latch means to open the latter mentioned valve subsequent to the latch means being rendered ineiTective, choke means 'for restricting flow of fluid under pressurefromsaid brake pipe-to said valve chamher, and means controlled by pressure of fluid in said brake-pipe operative upon anincrease in pressure therein to a chosen degree to move said slide valve to said cut=off position and upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure to a chosen lower degree to move said slide valve to said cut-in position; I v I 19. In a variable load vehicle brake equipment, a brake pipe, first and second brake cylinder pipes, a brake controlling valve device operable upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to supply fluid under pressure to said first brake cylinder pipe and upon an increase in pressure in said brake pipe to release fluid under pressure from said first brake cylinder pipe, a relay comprising a balancing lever having a fulcrum, two movable abutments subject,"respectivel,v and opposingly, to pressure of fluid in said first and second brake cylinder pipes and connected to said lever, and valve means controlled by said lever for varying pressure of fluid in said second brake cylinder pipe'acc'o'rding to variations in the pressure of fluid in said first brake cylinder pipe, motor means responsive to pressure of fluid suppliedl'rom said brake pipe to adjust said fulcrum relative to said lever for varying the effectiveness of said-valve meansaccording to the load on the vehicle, a communication through which fluid under pressure is adapted to be supplied from said brake ipe to said motor means, and lockout means for preventing the adjustment of said fulcrum until saidlever issubstantially relieved of the forces exerted bysaid movable abutments, said lock-out means comprising a'valve operative to open and'close said communication, and movable abutment means responsive to the pressure of fluid in said first brake cylinder pipe when above a chosenlow'de ree to actuate said valve to close said communication.

20. In a variable load vehicle brake equipment, a brake'pipe, first and second brake cylinder pipes, a brake controlling valve device operable upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to su pl fluid under pressure to said first brake cylinder pipe and upon an increase in pressure in said brake pipe ,to. release fluid under pressure from said first brake cylinder pipe, a relay valve device comprising a balancing lever having a fulcrum, two movable abutments subject, respectively and opposingly, to pressure of fluid in said first and second brake cylinder pipes and connected to said lever, and valves means controlled by said lever for varying pressure of fluid in said second brake cylinder pipe according to variations in the pressure of fluid in said first brake cylinder pipe, said fulcrum being adjustable relative to said lever for varying the efiectiveness of said valve means according to the load on the vehicle, motor means responsive to pressure of fluid supplied from said brake pipe to adjust said fulcrum according to the load on the vehicle, a communication through which fluid under pressure is supplied from said brake pipe to said motor means, and lock-out means operative in response to fluid pressure after a brake application has been eifected, to prevent adjusting of said fulcrum until the forces acting on said beam have been substantially relieved,

21. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a fluid pressure responsive .load measuring mechanism, a timing reservoir, a cut-off valve device comprising a casing having a valve chamber, a passage through which fluid under pressure is supplied from said brake pipe to said chamber, choke means in said passage for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure therethrough, a valve mounted in said chamber having a cut-in position in which fluid under pressure in said chamber may be supplied to said mechanism and said timing reservoir, said valve being operable to a cut-01f position in which said mechanism and said reservoir are disconnected from said chamber, and said reservoir and said mechanism are connected to atmosphere, and means responsive to an increase in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to a chosen degree to actuate said valve to its cut-off position and responsive to a reduction in the pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to a predetermined degree lower than said chosen degree to actuate said valve to its cut-in position.

22. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a fluid pressure responsive load measuring mechanism, a timing reservoir, a cut-oil valve device comprising a casing having a valve chamber, a passage through which fluid under pressure is supplied from said brake pipe to said chamber, choke means in said passage for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure therethrough, a valve mounted in said chamber having a cut-in position in which fluid under pressure in said chamber may be supplied to said mechanism and said timing reservoir, said valve being operable to a cut ofi position in which said mechanism and said reservoir are disconnested from said chamber and said reservoir and said mechanism are connected to atmosphere, choke means for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure from said mechanism to atmosphere, and means responsive to an increase in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to a chosen degree to actuate said valve to its cut-off position and responsive to a reduction in the pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to a predetermined degree lower than said chosen degree to actuate said valve to its cut-in position.

23. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to effect an application of the brake on said vehicle, an adjustable mechanism for va yingthe degree of brake ap- 29 plication in accordance with the degreeof load carried by the vehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure to adjust said mechanism, locking means for holding said mechanism in an adjusted position, actuating means operative in response to fluid pressure to render said locking means ineffective, valve means operable by said actuating means upon rendering said locking means ineffective to effect a supply of fluid under pressure to said motor means, a timing reservoir, and a cut-off valve device comprising a casing having a valve chamber, a passage through which fluid under pressure is supplied fromsaid brake pipe to said chamber, a valve mounted in said chamber having a cut-in positionin which fluid under pressure in said chamber maybe supplied to said actuating means and said timing reservoir, said valve being operable to a cut-off position in which said mechanism and said reservoir are disconnected from said chamber and connected to atmosphere, choke means for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure from said timing reservoir and said motor means whereby said locking means is rendered effective before said motor means is rendered ineffective, and means responsive to an increase in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to a chosen degree to actuate said valve to its cutoff position and responsive to a reduction in the pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to. a predetermined degree lower than said chosen degree to actuate said valve to its cut-in position.

24. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in pressureof fluid in said brake pipe to effect an application of the brake on said vehicle, an adjustable mechanism for varying the degree of brake application in accordance with the degree of load carried by the vehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure to adjust said mechanism, locking means for holding said mechanism in an adjusted position, actuating means for rendering said locking means effective and ineffective, valve means for controlling said actuating means operative upon rendering said locking means ineffective to effect a supply of fluid under pressure to actuate said motor means, means operative upon operation of said actuating means to render said locking means effective to release fluid under pressure from said motor means, and means for retarding the release of fluid under pressure from said motor means.

25. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a-reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to: effect an application of the brakes on saidvehicle, a relay valve device comprising an adjustable fulcrum for varying the degree of said applicationin accordance with the degree of load on saidvehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure for adjusting'said fulcrum, locking means for holding said fulcrum inan adjusted position, said locking means comprising asupply chamber, a delivery chamber,-a valve for controlling communication between said supply. chamber and said delivery chamber, an'actuating means operable in response tofluid pressure-torender said locking means ineffective and to; actuate said valve to open said communication atiming reservoir, a lookout valve device comprising a valve chamber, a valve disposed in saidyalve chamber for controlling communication between said valve abutment means operative in response to a chosen degree of pressure of fluid supplied by said brake controlling valve device to actuate said valve to close said communication, and a cut-out valve device comprising a casing having therein a slide valve chamber open to said brake pipe, choke means for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure from said brake pipe to said slide valve chamber, a slide valve disposed in said slide valve chamber having a cut-in position and a cut-off position, a passage connecting said timing reservoir to the seat of said slide valve, a second passage connecting said motor means and said delivery chamber of said locking means to said seat, a third passage connecting said actuating means to said seat, a fourth passage connecting said supply chamber of said locking means to said seat, and a fifth passage connecting said valve chamber of said lockout valve device to said seat, and choke means in said slide valve for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure from said motor'means to atmosphere, said slide valve in said cut-in position opening the first mentioned passage to said slide valve chamber and opening said fifth passage to said third and fourth passages, and in said cut-off position disconnecting the first mentioned passage from said slide valve chamber and connecting the other of said passages to atmosphere.

26; In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to effect an application of the brakes on said vehicle, a relay valve device comprising an adjustable fulcrum for varying the degree of said application in accordance with the degree of load on said vehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure for adjusting said fulcrum, locking means for holding said fulcrum in an adjusted position, said locking means comprising a supply chamber, a delivery chamber, a valve for controlling communication between said supply chamber and said delivery chamber, and actuating means operable in response to fluid pressure to render said locking means ineffective and to actuate said valve to open said communication, a timing reservoir, a lock-out valve device comprising a valve chamber, a valve disposed in said valve chamber for controlling communication between said valve chamber and said timing reservoir, and movable abutment means operative in response to a chosen degree of pressure of fluid supplied by said brake controlling valve device to actuate said valve to close said communication, and a cut-off valve device comprising a casing having a slide valve chamber open to said brake pipe, means for restricting flow of fluid under pressure from said brake pipe to said slide valve chamber, a slide valve disposed in said slide valve chamber having a cut-in position and a cut-off position, a passage connecting said timing reservoir to the seatof said slide valve, a second passage connecting saidmotor means and said delivery chamber of said locking means to said seat, a third passage connecting said actuating means to said seat, a fourth passage connecting said supply chamber of said locking means to said seat, a fifth passage connecting said valve chamber of said lock-out valve device to said seat, said slide valve in said cut-in position opening the first mentioned passage to said slide valve chamber and opening said fifth passage to said third and fourth passages, and in said cut-off position disconnecting the first mentioned passage from said slide valve chamber and connecting all of said passages to atmosphere, and choke means for restricting the flow of fluid under pressure from said valve chamber to said timing reservoir.

, 27. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to eifect an application of the brake on said vehicle, a relay valve device comprising an adjustable fulcrum for varying the degree of said application in accordance with the degree of load on said vehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure for adjusting said fulcrum, locking means for holding said fulcrum in an adjusted position, said locking means comprising a look, a supply chamher, a delivery chamber, a valve for controlling communication between said chambers, a diaphragm connected to and of greater area than said valve subject to the pressure of fluid in said delivery chamber, a spring urging said valve toward a position for closing said communication, an actuating means operable in response to fluid pressure to render said lock ineffective and to actuate said valve against the pressure of said spring to open said communication, and a cutoff valve device comprising a casing having a slide valve chamber, a slide valve disposed in said slide valve chamber having a cut-in position and a cut-01f position, a passage connecting said motor means and said delivery chamber of said looking means to the seat of said slide valve, a second passage connecting said actuating means to said seat, a third passage connecting said supply chamber of said locking means to said seat, said slide valve in said cut-in position connecting fluid under pressure supplied from said brake pipe to said passages and in said cut-oil position connecting said passages to atmosphere.

2%. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to effect an application of the brakes on said vehicle, a relay valve device comprising an adjustable fulcrum for varying the degree of said application in accordance with the degree of load on said vehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure for adjusting said fulcrum, locking means for holding said fulcrum in an adjusted position, said locking means comprising a look, a supply chamher, a delivery chamber, a valve for controlling communication between said chambers, a diaphragm positively connected to and of greater area than said valve subject to the pressure of fluid in said delivery chamber, a spring urging said valve toward a position for closing said communication, an actuating means operable in response to fluid pressure to render said lock ineffective and to actuate said valve against the pressure of said spring to open said communication, a cut-off valve device comprising a casing having a slide valve chamber, a slide valve disposed in said slide valve chamber having a cut-in position and a cut-ofi position, a passage connecting said motor means and said delivery chamber of said locking means to the seat of said slide valve, 3, second passage connecting said actuating means to said seat, a third passage connecting said supply chamber of said locking means to said seat, said slide valve in said cut-in position connecting fluid under pressure supplied from said brake pipe to said passages and in said cut-ofi position connecting said passages to atmosphere, and means for restricting the release of fluid under pressure from said motor means with respect to release of fluid under pressure from said looking means.

29. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to supply fluid under pressure for effecting an application of the brakes on said vehicle, a relay valve device comprising an adjustable fulcrum for varying the degree of said application in accordance with the degree of load on the vehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure for adjusting said fulcrum, valve means operable in response to fluid pressure to supply fluid under pressure to said motor means, a cut-off valve device having a cut-in position in which fluid under pressure is supplied from said brake pipe to said valve means and operable upon an increase in the pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to a cut-off position in which said motor means and said valve means are open to atmosphere, and a lock-out valve device ior controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from said brake pipe to said cut-off valve device and said valve means for operation of said motor means, said lock-out valve device comprising avalve chamber in open communication with said cut-off valve device, one passage through which fluid under pressure may be supplied to said valve chamber, one valve mounted in said valve chamber for controlling communication between said passage and said valve chamber, a second passage leading to said cut-off valve device through which fluid under pressure may flow from said motor means and said valve means to atmosphere, at second valvemounted in said second passage'for controlling communication thereto, a control chamber to which fluid under pressure may be supplied from said brake controlling valve device, a movable abutment interposed between and serving to define said valve chamber and said control chamber operatively engaging said valve, and resilient means urging said diaphragm' and said valves toward a position in which said one valve closes the first mentioned communicationand said second valve opens said second mentioned communication, said valves and said diaphragm being operative upon an increase in the pressure of fluid in said one passage to a degree greater than a certain low degree of pressure in said control chamber to a position in which said one valve opens the first mentioned communication and said second'valve closes the second mentioned communication.

30. In a vehicle variable load fluid pressure brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in the pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to supply fluid under pressure for efiecting an application of the brakes on said vehicle, a relay valve device comprising an adjustable fulcrum for varying the degree of said application in accordance with the degree of load on the vehicle, motor means operable in response to fluid pressure for adjusting said fulcrum, valve means operable in response to fluid pressure to supply fluid under pressure to said motor means, a cutoff valve device having a cut-in position in which fluid under pressure is supplied from said brake pipe to said valve means and operable upon an increase inthe pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to a cut-off position in which said motor means and said valve means are opened to atmosphere, and a lock-out valve device for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from said brake pipe to said cut-oif valve device and said valve device, and fluid pressure responsive valve means having a position in which the first mentioned communication is closed and the second mentioned communication is open and operative upon an increase in the pressure of fluid in said one passage to a degree greater than a certain low degree of pressure of fluid in said control chamber to a position in which said first mentioned comrhunication is open and the second mentioned communication is closed.

31. A measuring mechanism for a variable load brake equipment for a vehicle having a sprung body part and an unsprung truck part which is capable of angular movement in a horizontal plane relative to the sprung part, said measuring mechanism comprising a measuring element carried by said sprung part and having a normal position disposed in spaced relation to and at one side of said unsprung part and movable relatively to said unsprung part substantially horizontally into vertically spaced relation from said unsprung part and then movable vertically into engagement with said unsprung part for conditioning said brake equipment for operation to provide a braking force corresponding to the load on said vehicle, means for moving said element to said normal position, and means for moving said element. from said normal position into engagement with said unsprung part.

32. A measuring mechanism for a variable load brake equipment for a vehicle having a sprung body part and an unsprung truck part which is capable of angular movement in a horizontal plane relative to the sprung part, said measuring mechanism comprising a measuring element disposedin horizontally and vertically spaced relationships to said unsprung truck part and rotatable horizontally to.a position spaced vertically only away from said unsprung truck part and movablevertically into engagement with said unsprung truck part regardless of the position of said sprung part with relation to said runsprung part for conditioning said brake equipment for operation to provide a braking force corresponding to the load on the vehicle, means operative to rotate said measuring element horizontally to said position, and means operative thereafter to actuate said measuring element into stopping engagement with said unsprung truck part.

33. In a device for measuring the relative change in the vertical distance between a sprung and an unsprung part of a vehicle, the combination with an unsprung truck part which is capable of angular movement in a horizontal plane relative .to said sprung part, of a measuring element carried by said sprung part and having a shoe with a surface which is in substantially parallel relation with the horizontal center plane of said unsprung truck part, said shoe surfacebeing rotatable horizontally to a position in vertically spaced relation only from said unsprung truck part and movable vertically into engagement with said unsprung truck part regardless of the positi.on of the sprung part with relation to the unsprung truck part, means operative to actuate said element and thereby said shoe surface horizontally to said position and thereafter vertically into engagement with said truck part at a point where the vertical center plane therethrough will intersect the periphery of said unsprung truck part and being eiiective to maintain said parallel relationship at all times, and a member operable by the last mentioned means to indicate the degree of verticalmovement of said element.

34. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus, in combination, a brake pipe, a brake controlling valve device operative upon a reduction in pressure of fluid in said brake pipe to supply fluid under pressure for efiecting an application of the brakes on said vehicle, a relay valve device comprising an adjustable fulcrum for varying the degree of said application in accordance with the degree of load on the vehicle, said vehicle having a sprung part and an unsprung part, a measuring mechanism carried by said sprung part comprising a measuring element disposed in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to said unsprung part and rotatable horizontally to a position spaced vertically only away from said unsprung part and movable vertically into engagement with said unsprung part regardless of the position of the sprung part with relation to the unsprung part, motor means operable in response to fiuid pressure for actuating said measuring mechanism, linkage means including a tortuous groove interposed between said motor means and said measuring element for actuating said measuring element, and a piston member responsive to the pressure of fluid supplied to said motor means to actuate said fulcrum to a position for braking an empty vehicle and responsive to the pressure of fluid supplied from said motor means to actuate said fulcrum to a position for braking a vehicle carrying a load as determined by the position of said measuring element. i

35. In a vehicle variable load brake apparatus having a part to be adjusted for varying the braking power on a vehicle according to the vertical distance between a sprung and an unsprung part of said vehicle, a device for measuring relative change in the vertical distance between said sprung and unsprung parts and positioning said adjustable part accordingly, said device comprising a measuring element carried by said sprung part in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to said unsprung truck part and movable into overlapping relationship and engagement with a peripheral surface of the unsprung truck part at a point in the vertical center plane through said part regardless of the position of said sprung part with relation to said unsprung part for conditioning the brake equipment to provide braking called for by the load, and means operative to actuate said measuring element into over-lapping relation and engagement with the unsprung truck part. 

